Mobile TV research confirmed as impossible

Following our original story, the research company in question issued a 'clarification'. This stated that "the channel findings quoted in the press release should be interpreted in the context of all mobile video platforms - videoclip downloads, video streaming applications and video served from WAP sites."

Where Telephia really falls down is that it also claimed that, "Within this broader context, all of the video brands discussed in the release are indeed available to UK mobile users in some format."

However, the INQ has just spoken to Andrew Watt, UKTV's head of New Media. UKTV is a network of 10 channels, including UKTV Gold.

In the survey UKTV Gold took tenth place as most viewed on a mobile phone with a 17 per cent market share. A fact which Andrew Watt described as "more than a little surprising."

He confirmed that not only was UKTV unavailable right now, the company had even felt unable to participate in a trial of DVB-H (a leading mobile TV format) in the UK because of DRM issues.

When asked whether UKTV might still be viewed via an HTML browser on a mobile phone, Watt confirmed, "We don't even have a streaming service either."

Rumours have reached the INQ's ears concerning the fact that no music station featured in Telephia's Top Ten. Rival research companies have consistently placed music station MTV as the top most viewed station over Vodafone's network, for example.

The INQ was unable to reach MTV for a comment. µ

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Telephia's mobile TV research begs channel questions